My son was 9 months old when he first climbed out of his baby bed. I made an appointment with the pediatrician for that day, and we talked about my options: Hub and I could sleep in shifts, or we could put a lid on the crib. I was a first-time mom, and the idea of a lid horrified me until I thought--what happens when we fail to keep a close watch and he gets out of bed?
At 9 months, he was still an infant--very bright, bright enough to get into serious trouble...
We painted some beautiful pictures on the lid of the crib, and each night, tied it shut out of his reach. We did this for about a year. Everyone survived, and he has no phobias--full grown self-supporting married father of two, today...
But the things you go through...
Neighbor had (has) triplets and was overhwhelmed.
(Mama hightailed it on him; long story.)
My wife introduced him to the concept of the "crib tent."
Wonderful invention.